BTE/CIC auditory device and modular connector system therefor
First Claim
1. An earpiece auditory device comprising:
- a behind-the-ear component, being shaped to fit behind an ear of a user;
a completely-in-canal component being shaped to fit into the ear canal of the user, the completely-in-canal component comprising a speaker;
a connector physically coupling the behind-the-ear component to the completely-in-canal component, the connector having at least one end detachably physically coupled to the behind-the-ear component or the completely-in-canal component, wherein at least a portion of the connector is adapted to be sufficiently rigid to use the connector to insert the completely-in-canal component into and remove the completely-in-canal component from the ear canal of the user; and
an ear mold coupled to the completely-in-canal component, the ear mold adapted to provide attenuation of sound waves passing through the ear mold.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Reexamination
Accused Products
Abstract
An earpiece auditory device is described which includes a behind-the-ear component shaped to fit behind the ear of a user. The behind-the-ear component can also have at least one microphone and processing circuitry, where the processing circuitry is used to processes audio signal from the microphone. The device also includes a speaker sized to fit in the ear canal of a user, and an ear mold holding the speaker in place. The ear mold can also be position to touch the bony portion of the ear canal and provide sound attenuation in the ear canal. A connector physically and electrically connects the behind-the-ear component to the speaker. The connector is capable of being used to insert and remove the speaker and ear mold from the ear canal of the user.
187 Citations
29 Claims
-
1. An earpiece auditory device comprising:
-
a behind-the-ear component, being shaped to fit behind an ear of a user; a completely-in-canal component being shaped to fit into the ear canal of the user, the completely-in-canal component comprising a speaker; a connector physically coupling the behind-the-ear component to the completely-in-canal component, the connector having at least one end detachably physically coupled to the behind-the-ear component or the completely-in-canal component, wherein at least a portion of the connector is adapted to be sufficiently rigid to use the connector to insert the completely-in-canal component into and remove the completely-in-canal component from the ear canal of the user; and an ear mold coupled to the completely-in-canal component, the ear mold adapted to provide attenuation of sound waves passing through the ear mold. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
-
-
13. A modular system for providing a plurality of earpiece auditory device components, a selected combination of which may be assembled to form an earpiece auditory device tailored to a user, the modular system comprising:
-
a plurality of connectors including connectors of different lengths, wherein the connectors of different lengths include a connector that is of sufficient length to physically couple a behind-the-ear component to a completely-in-canal component to fit the user, when the completely-in-canal component is placed inside the ear canal of the user, wherein the completely-in-canal component includes a speaker, and at least a portion of a selected connector of sufficient length is sufficiently rigid and adapted to be used to insert the completely-in-canal component into the ear canal of the user and remove the completely-in-canal component from the ear canal of the user; and a plurality of ear molds including ear molds of different diameters, wherein the ear molds of different diameters include an ear mold that is of a diameter appropriate for the ear canal of the intended user, and wherein a selected ear mold is adapted to be coupled to the completely-in-canal component connected to the selected connector. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
-
-
23. A modular system for providing a plurality of earpiece auditory device components, a selected combination of which are assembled to form an earpiece auditory device tailored to a user, the modular system comprising:
-
a plurality of behind-the-ear components having different characteristics and adapted for selection of a behind-the-ear component having characteristics that meets an intended use of the user; a plurality of ear molds having different characteristics and adapted for selection of an ear mold having characteristics that is appropriate for the ear canal of the intended user, wherein a selected ear mold is adapted to be a component of a completely-in-canal component; a plurality of speakers having different performance characteristics and adapted for selection of a speaker of a particular performance characteristic for the user, wherein a selected speaker is adapted to be another component of the completely-in-canal component; and a plurality of connectors having different characteristics and adapted for selection of a connector having characteristics that meet the intended use of the user when the completely-in-canal component is placed inside the ear canal of the user, wherein at least a portion of a selected connector is sufficiently rigid and adapted to be used to insert the completely-in-canal component into the ear canal of the user and remove the completely-in-canal component from the ear canal of the user. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
-
Specification